Mafia III

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Mafia III are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praised the story for its unique and powerful backdrop, tackling sensitive topics such as racism and violence in 1960s America. The narrative is described as engrossing, mature, and compelling, with excellent character development and emotionally anchored characters. Critics like Forbes, XboxAddict, and Easy Allies specifically highlight the story as the game's greatest strength, with Forbes calling it one of the most compelling journeys in a video game. The use of media from the time era, such as government hearing footage and present-day interviews, is also praised as a stroke of brilliance by XboxAddict. However, there are some critics who mention certain negatives about the story. Game Informer, in particular, criticizes the story for becoming a typical revenge story that dominates the narrative. Digital Spy also mentions that the story can be repetitive and by-the-numbers. Kill Screen points out that the game fails to fully explore the potential of its Southern setting and its literary aspects. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Mafia III is very good. The majority of the critics praise the story for its strong writing, attention to detail, and its exploration of complex and sensitive issues such as racism and revenge. The story is described as memorable, well-presented, and well-rounded, with unique elements like a fake documentary and strong performances. The game's unflinching depiction of racism and violence in 1960s America is also highly appreciated. Critics like Guardian, DarkStation, and Push Square highlight the smart writing, superb characterization, and the game's ability to elevate a simple revenge plot. The story is considered one of the best-written in modern gaming, and its portrayal of racism is commended for being candid, unapologetic, and important.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Mafia III are quite varied. Some critics have highlighted positive aspects of the gameplay, such as smooth and balanced driving mechanics, satisfying gunplay, and functional stealth options. Forbes praises the driving mechanics, while Xbox Achievements and Cheat Code Central appreciate the cover shooter mechanics. The Guardian and Hooked Gamers mention the solid combat and stealth options. These positive elements contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience for players. However, the majority of the critics express negative opinions about the gameplay of Mafia III. The most common criticism revolves around the repetitive nature of the missions and lack of variety in gameplay activities. Game Informer, GameSpot, ZTGD, and Easy Allies all point out the repetitive missions and scenarios. The lack of variety extends to almost everything, including optional activities, according to Post Arcade. CGMagazine and DarkStation also criticize the repetitive mission design. The AI is another aspect that receives negative feedback, with GameSpot and Easy Allies mentioning dumb enemy AI as a flaw. The lack of satisfaction and creativity in the mission design is also highlighted by DarkStation and Kill Screen. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of Mafia III has both positive and negative aspects. While there are enjoyable elements such as smooth driving mechanics and satisfying combat, the repetitive mission design and lack of variety in gameplay activities are major drawbacks. The critics emphasize the need for more creativity and depth in the missions to prevent the gameplay from becoming monotonous. Despite the mixed opinions, it is clear that the gameplay of Mafia III has not been able to fully captivate the critics, with many feeling that it falls short in comparison to other open-world crime games.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Mafia III are varied. Several critics, including Forbes and COGconnected, praise the game's visuals, highlighting beautiful character design, facial animations, lighting, textures, and overall style. They appreciate the attention to detail in creating a period-perfect town of New Bordeaux, with its mix of ramshackle and commercial buildings, bayou streams, and night hotspots. The city is described as lovingly crafted and gorgeous to explore, with distinct areas such as the Bayou and the French Quarter. The inclusion of actual issues of Playboy from the 1960s is also mentioned as a positive aspect by Game Informer. On the other hand, some critics express disappointment with the graphics and visual design of Mafia III. GameSpot, Guardian, and ZTGD criticize the game for blurry textures, odd lighting, object pop-in, and visual glitches. They mention flat textures, weird lighting, and muddy visuals, particularly in the city blocks. XboxAddict and DarkStation also note that the open-world modeling is not on par with other top-tier sandbox games, and character models are unappealing. The shoddy lighting effects and inconsistent visuals are also criticized by Stevivor. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed. While there are positive remarks about the character design, facial animations, lighting, and the period details of New Bordeaux, there are also significant criticisms regarding blurry textures, odd lighting, visual glitches, and unappealing character models. Some critics, such as Game Informer and COGconnected, find the game visually impressive, while others, like GameSpot and ZTGD, are more critical of its graphics. However, it is worth noting that the game's visuals do not seem to have a significant impact on the overall experience for most critics. The attention to detail, authentic architecture, and culture of New Bordeaux are appreciated, but the technical flaws and inconsistent visuals detract from the overall enjoyment for some reviewers.

The opinions of the critics regarding the sound design and music of Mafia III are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praised the game for its exceptional soundtrack, featuring classic songs from the 1960s that create an authentic and immersive atmosphere. Critics like XboxAddict and God is a Geek specifically mentioned the quality of the music, with iconic songs from artists like Jimi Hendrix and Creedence Clearwater Revival standing out. The game's New Orleans-inspired setting and vintage '60s soundtrack were also highlighted by critics like GameSpot and Metro GameCentral for contributing to the convincing atmosphere of the game. The voice acting was another aspect that received praise, with critics like Xbox Achievements and Guardian commending the superb voice performances and convincing facial animations that bring the game's cutscenes to life. While the majority of the critics had positive opinions, there were a few negative points raised. Kill Screen criticized the game for not fully utilizing the music of New Orleans and relying on generic Motown hits and rock 'n' roll instead. Additionally, ZTGD mentioned that while the soundtrack and audio were outstanding, some NPC dialogue was repetitive, which could potentially detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of Mafia III are exceptional. The majority of the critics praised the game's soundtrack, with many considering it one of the best in any game ever. The authentic and immersive atmosphere created by the New Orleans-inspired setting and vintage '60s soundtrack was widely appreciated. The voice acting and sound effects were also commended for blending well into the game and adding to the overall experience. While there were a few minor criticisms, the overwhelmingly positive opinions of the critics highlight the high quality of the sound design and music in Mafia III.

The voice acting in Mafia III has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the critics. Many critics, such as Forbes, Post Arcade, Stevivor, Xbox Achievements, ZTGD, Digital Spy, Guardian, Hooked Gamers, COGconnected, DarkStation, Easy Allies, Gaming Age, IBTimes UK, Metro GameCentral, New York Daily News, Push Square, and Washington Post, praised the voice performances in the game. They described the voice acting as well-done, top standard, incredible, first-rate, stellar, gripping, charismatic, and commendable. The critics highlighted the authenticity and believability of the voice acting, with accents, manners of speaking, and lip syncing that brought the characters to life. They also appreciated the individuality and nuance that the voice acting added to the characters. The dialogue was described as snappy and memorable, contributing to the overall immersive experience of the game. While the majority of the critics praised the voice acting in Mafia III, there were no specific negative opinions mentioned by any of the critics. However, it is important to note that one critic, Cheat Code Central, did not specifically mention the voice acting in their review, focusing instead on the authenticity of the accents in the game. This lack of mention may suggest that the voice acting did not leave a significant impression on them, but without further details, it is difficult to draw any definitive conclusions about potential negatives. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Mafia III is of high quality and greatly enhances the authenticity and immersion of the game. The positive reviews from multiple critics, such as Forbes, ZTGD, Easy Allies, and DarkStation, emphasize the exceptional performances and the way they bring the characters to life. The voice acting is praised for its believability, individuality, and the way it adds depth to the characters. The positive reception from the majority of the critics indicates that the voice acting in Mafia III is a standout aspect of the game and contributes significantly to the overall experience.

In terms of the technical performance on Xbox One, the majority of critics expressed concerns and encountered various issues. GameSpot, Stevivor, Xbox Achievements, XboxAddict, and ZTGD all reported experiencing bugs, crashes, visual quirks, and other technical problems. These issues ranged from broken mission objectives and enemies spotting through walls to hard crashes and odd visual glitches. However, it is worth noting that ZTGD did not encounter any major technical issues during their playtime, suggesting that the experience may vary for different players. Moving on to the PC version, Digital Spy and GameSpot both mentioned technical issues, including design oversights, broken mission objectives, enemies spotting through walls, and hard crashes. Guardian also noted visual glitches on both PS4 and PC. However, PC PowerPlay reported only a single crash on the first day, indicating a relatively smoother experience compared to other critics. It is important to consider that the PC version seemed to have a mixed reception in terms of technical performance, with some encountering significant issues while others experienced fewer problems. Regarding the PlayStation 4 version, CGMagazine, COGconnected, DarkStation, Easy Allies, GameSpot, Gameplanet, IBTimes UK, Metro GameCentral, Push Square, and Washington Post all provided feedback on the technical performance. While some critics mentioned occasional glitches, awkward physics, and control issues, others reported no significant graphical glitches or crashes. Metro GameCentral even stated that the game had fewer bugs than initially reported. However, Easy Allies found the crashes during emotional climaxes to be unacceptable, highlighting a specific concern with the game's stability on PS4. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Mafia III suffered from various technical issues across all gaming platforms. The Xbox One version seemed to have the most prevalent problems, with multiple critics mentioning bugs, crashes, visual glitches, and other technical quirks. The PC version had a mixed reception, with some critics encountering significant technical issues, while others experienced a smoother gameplay experience. The PlayStation 4 version had a range of feedback, with some critics reporting occasional glitches and control issues, while others found the technical performance to be relatively stable. It is clear that the technical performance of Mafia III was a significant concern for the majority of critics, impacting their overall experience with the game.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Mafia III are mixed, with some positive aspects mentioned. Xbox Achievements highlights the game's massive size and optional objectives, which can provide additional content and extend the gameplay experience. Forbes also notes that the value of replaying the game depends on the player's goals, suggesting that different playstyles and objectives can enhance the replayability for certain individuals. Additionally, COGconnected mentions the potential for post-release patches and story expansions to address the lack of mission variety, indicating that future updates may improve the replay value. However, the majority of critics express negative opinions regarding the replay value of Mafia III. GameSpot, ZTGD, Digital Spy, God is a Geek, IBTimes UK, Metro GameCentral, Push Square, and games(TM) all highlight the repetitive nature of the missions and lack of activities beyond the main story. These critics mention the uninspired mission design, lack of variety, and repetitive formula as major drawbacks that diminish the appeal of replaying the game. The review from Cheat Code Central does not specifically mention replayability but does note the lack of mission variety and suggests that the city could have had more attractions, which indirectly implies a potential negative impact on replay value. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Mafia III has limited replay value. The repetitive missions and lack of activities beyond the story missions are frequently mentioned as significant factors that diminish the appeal of replaying the game. While some positive aspects, such as the game's size and optional objectives, are highlighted by a few critics, the negative opinions regarding the lack of variety and repetitive gameplay overshadow these positives. It is clear that the majority of critics feel that Mafia III falls short in terms of providing a compelling experience for repeated playthroughs.